Centrifugal extractor



June 8, 1965 e. H. MADANY 3,187,998

CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR Filed March 31, 1964 ////////////////,vm/// f- 1 g l5 l5 INVENTOR. George H. Madany BY m 4 hi /Q mamas CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTUB George H. Madany, 1110 9th Ave. NW., Minot, N. Dale, assignor of one fonrth to Vernon D. Jarvis, Decatur, Ill. 7

' Filed Mar. 31, 1964, Ser. No. 356,321

6 Claims. (til. 233-15} This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 861,420, filed December 21, 1959, now PatentNo. 3,133,880, issued May 19,1964.

i This invention relates tocentrifugal countercurrent liquid extraction devices, and more particularly to compact apparatus providing a large number of separate stages for effecting intimate contact between immiscible or partly immiscible liquids of different densities and for separating the same.

In many industrial operations it is necessary to contact intimately two immiscible or partially immiscible liquids of different densities, and subsequently separatethem. This may be done to promote a chemical reaction between the liquids, or to transfer'one or more components from one liquid to the other as in the case of liquid-liquid extraction. It is well known that the efficiency of such operations is greatly increased when the mixing and separation is repeated several times, as ina 'multi-stage device;

Intimate contact, and therefore eflicient extraction, is promoted by turbulent flow of liquid components. However, intimate mixing and turbulence tends to lengthen the time required for separation of the liquid reaction products or spent liquids. For this reason, it is desired that devices promoting turbulent mixing be combined with means providing strong separating forces. More;

over, such a combination allows the use of liquids which could not be handled with devices relying on gravity alone for separation. Thus, a liquid might be economically desirable for use to extract a certain component from another liquid, but might have a density too near to the density of the latter, to be effective in the more conventional extraction devices. Or, a liquid, sensitive to radiation but very desirable otherwise, might be usable to extract a radio-active component in an extractor requiring a short residence time, but would be impracticable otherwise.

In centrifugal separators a force equal to many thousands of times that of gravity may be generated so that relatively fast separation is possible. However, the provision of separate mixer and separator stages is expensive and requires large apparatus, and theoverall throughput per unit volume or power used, is relatively low. My prior application referred to above describes and claims a structure wherein mixing and separating are carried out simultaneously by centrifugal devices. This application describes a structure having some of the same features as the devices of my prior application and which has advantages for certain applications. l

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a liquid-liquid contact apparatus of relatively simplemechanical construction which causes intimate contact and fast separation of the liquid components and has large capacity for a given size and power.

It is afurther object of the invention to provide liquidliquid contact apparatus which provides multi-stage mixing and separation in a relatively compact structure and which requires only a short residence time.

It is another object of the invention to provide a centrifugal countercurrent contact apparatus for liquids of dilferent densities which is constructed to promote. turbulence and intimate mixing of the liquids, and to provide strong separation forces to reduce contact time between the reaction or extraction products.

V sasrsss Patented June a, 1965 "ice .A feature of thepresent invention is the provision of a centrifugal mixer and separator havingspaced frusto conical discs and rings extending between the discs and radially spaced, with perforations in the discs adjacent the rings through which light and, heavy liquids pass in opposite directions, with the perforations forming mixing zones and separating zones being provided between the perforations. l

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a mixer and separator wherein radially spaced holes are provided in the aforementioned discs to form channels for movement of light and heavy liquids into the spaces between the discs. The channels may be defined by channel shaped distributors positioned in the openings, and these channels may be inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotating bowl in which the discs are positioned to provide a component of force impelling liquids upwardly through the openings so that mixing and separation takes place in the spaces between the adjacent 'site directions to produce mixing.

discs. This results in maximum use of the radial space for countercurrent flow providing mixing and separation. The invention is illustrated in the drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is a cross sectional View illustrating the centrifugal extractor device including a bowl with conical discs and rings for mixing and separating the liquids, and channels for supplying liquid thereto; FIG. 2 illustrates one conical disc from the device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view illustrating the movementof the liquid between the discs.

The centrifugal countercurrent liquid contact apparatus of the present invention includes a rotatable bowl having an interior working space and means for rotating the bowl about a central axis. A plurality of conical discs or plates are positioned'within the bowl and continue in a direction outwardly from the axis of rotation. A plurality of openings in the plates are lined up to provide at least two channels through the disc assembly with one channel being relatively close to the axis of rotation and the other relatively remote therefrom. A liquid distributor introduces light liquid adjacent one end of the channel remote from the axis and heavy liquid adjacent one end of the channel close to the axis. Upon rotation of the bowl the liquids flow countercurrent through the spaces between adjacent plates. The discs have perforations or openings therein positioned in spaced annular zones through which the light and heavy liquids flow in oppo- Rings are provided between the discs and positioned just above the perforations in the lower disc and just below the perforations in the upper discs to force the liquids through the perforations. The perforations produce mixing of the liquids and the spaces therebetween form separating sections, so that the device provides effective mixing and separation of the liquids.

In FIG. 1 of the drawing, the centrifugalextractor device is shown including bowl 10 having a plurality of annular frusto conical discs 11 therein. Light liquid is intr-oduced'through a center tube 12 andpasses down the path,13 between the bowl and the conical member 14. The light liquid then passes up through outer tubular distributing channels 15 and is distributed to the spaces between the conical discs. As the discs rotate, the light liquid flows inwardly along the upper surfaces of the conical discs.

The heavy liquid is introduced through the tube 16 placed about the center tube 12. It is deflected by the conical member 17 and passes through'the channel 18 provided between the tubular members 19 and 20. The member 19 joins the conical member 14 which terminates the passage 18. The heavy liquid is then applied to the tubuall lar distributing channels 21 which distribute the heavy liquid into the spaces between the discs 11.

The distributing channels and 21 may be of circular or elipticalcross section, with openings 23 through which provided through the discs to permit the liquids to move from the space between one pair of discs to an adjacent space between discs.

FIG. 2 shows one disc 11 with rings 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d extending upwardly therefrom. The perforations are in annular zones just below the rings, and the radial dimension of each zone is less than the spacing between zones. Radial vanes, asshown at 25, may also be provided along the upper surface of the conical disc to prevent slippage of liquid between the discs. The vanes act to accelerate the peripheral velocity of the heavy liquid on its way outward and decelerate the peripheral velocity of the light liquid on its radial way inward.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged cross section of a part of three discs 11a, 11b and 110, and the rings 24 therebetween, to show the movement of the liqiuds therethrough. The path of the heavy liquid is shown by solid arrows. As previously stated the heavy liquid moves radially outward as the discs rotate. by dotted arrows, and the light liquid moves radially inward. It may be seen from FIG. 3 that the rings 24 are positioned on the upper surface of each disc 11, just above or inward of the perforations therein, and just below or outward of the perforations in the next disc above. The heavy liquid moving radially outwardly is obstructed by therings and forced to-move upward through the perforaa tions into the next space, then again outwardly to the next annular ring and upwardly through the perforations in the disc, and so forth. The light liquid moves inwardly untilit engages a ring and thenmoves downwardlythrough annular perforated zonesv are radially spaced from each adjacent discs 11, and perforations or openings 22 are The path of the light liquid is shown other and provide sufiicient movement of theliquids therecharged from the inner edges of the discs through the passage'28 between the member 27 and the member 1?.

The invention therefore provides a liquid extraction device of a relatively simple construction.- As a plurality of mixing spaces are included between adjacent spaced apart discs, small volumes of liquid are contacted sep arately and good mixing is insured. Also the rings between the discs prevent the liquids from bypassing the.

mixing zones. Byhaving a large number of mixing and separating'zones, a large output capacity is provided ina small overall structure. Although the device has been illustrated as rotatable about a vertical axis, it will be apparent that it can be supported in other positions and would be operative when positioned for rotation about a horizontal axis.

. I claim:

1. In centrifugal countercurrent contact apparatus for effecting intimate contact'between'and separation of liquids which are at least partially immiscible, the combination including, a rotary bowl having a central axis and an interior working space, a plurality of spaced apart annular discs within the working space and extending outwardly from said central axis of said bowl and rotatable therewith, a plurality of aligned openings in said discs forming at least two channels within the working space including a first channel relatively close to said central axis and a second channel relatively remote from said central axis, means for introducing heavy liquid into said first channel for distribution outwardly into the spaces between said discs, means for introducing light liquid into said second channel for distribution inwardly into the spaces between said discs, each of 'said' discs including perforations in spaced annular zonesthereiri located between the inner and outer edges thereof and between said first and. second channels, a plurality of rings extending between adjacent discs'and each positioned inward of aperforated zone in said disc below the ring and outward of a perforated zone in said disc above the ring, said rings causing the light and heavy liquids to flow through said perforations in opposite directions to cause thorough mixing of the liquids, the light and heavy liquids se'parating'while passing from one perforated zone to another to provide a plurality of mixing and separating sections along said discs between the inner and outer edges thereof, means for receiving the separated light liquid from the inner edges of said discs,

' and means for receiving the separated heavy liquid from the outeredges of said discs.

2; In centrifugal countercurrent contact apparatus for effecting intimate contact between and separation of liquids which are at least partiallyimmiscible, a rotary bowl having a central axis and anint'erior working space, a plurality of spaced apart annular fru'sto conical discs within the working space and extending outwardly from said central axis of said bowl and rotatable therewith, a plurality of aligned openings in said discs forming at least two channels within the working space including a first channel relatively close to' said central axis and a second channel relatively remote from said central axis, means for introducing heavy liquid into said first channel to be distributed outwardly into the spaces between said discs, means for introducing light liquid into said second channel to be distributed inwardly into the spaces between said discs, each of said discs including perforations in spacedannular zones therein located between the inner andouter' edges'thereof; and between said first and second channels, a plurality of rings extending between adjacent discs and each positioned just above a perfo rated zone 'in-thedisc below the ring and just below a perforated zone in the disc above the ring, said rings causingthe light and heavy liquids to flow through'said perforations in opposite directions to cause thorough mixing of the liquids, the light and heavy liquids separating while passing from one'perforated zone toanother to provide a plurality of mixing and separating sections along said-discs between the inner and outer edges thereof,.means for receiving the separated light liquid from the inner edges of said discs, and means for receiving Itjhe separated heavy liquid from the outer edges of said lSCS.

.3. In centrifugal countercurrent contact apparatus for effecting intimate contact between and separation of liquids which are at'least partially immiscible,-a rotary bowl having a central axis and an interior working space, a plurality of spaced apart annular frusto conical discs within the working space and extending outwardly from said central axis of said bowl and rota-table therewith, a plurality of aligned openings insaid discs forming at least two channels within theworking space including a first channel relatively close to said central axis and a second channel relatively remote from said central axis, means for introducing heavy liquid into said first channel to be distributed outwardly into the spaces between said discs, means for introducing light liquid into said second channel to be distributed inwardly into the spaces between said discs, each of said discs including perforations in spaced annular zones therein located between the inner and outer edges thereof and between said first and secondchannels, each of said zones having a radial dimension less than that of the spacing between zones, a plurality of rings extending between adjacent discs and each positioned inward of and above a perforated zone in the disc below the ring and outward of and below a perforated zone in the disc above the ring, said rings causing the light and heavy liquids to flow through said perforations in opposite directions to cause thorough mixing of the liquids, the light and heavy liquids separating while passing from one perforated zone to another to provide a plurality of mixing and separating sections along said discs between the inner and outer edges thereof, means for receiving the separated light liquid from the inner edges of said discs, and means for receiving the separated heavy liquid from the outer edges of said discs.

4. In centrifugal countercurrent contact apparatus for effecting intimate contact between and separation of liquids which are at least partially immiscible, a rotary bowl having a central axis and an interior working space,

a plurality of spaced apart annular frusto conical discs within the working space and extending outwardly from said central axis of said bowl and rotatable therewith,

a plurality of aligned openings in said discs forming at least two channels within the working space including a first channel relatively close to said central axis and a second channel relatively remote from said central axis, means for introducing heavy liquid into said first channel to be distributed outwardly into the spaces between said discs, means for introducing light liquid into said second channel to be distributed inwardly into the spaces between said discs, each of said discs including perfo rations in spaced annular zones therein located between the inner and outer edges thereof and between said first and second channels, a plurality of rings extending between adjacent discs and each positioned inward of and above a perforated zone in the disc below the ring and outward of and below a perforated zone in the disc above the ring, said rings causing the light and heavy liquids to fiow through said perforations in opposite directions to cause thorough mixing of the liquids, the light and heavy liquids separating while passing from one perforated zone to another to provide a plurality of mixing and separating sections along said discs between the inner and outer edges thereof, ,at least one radial vane positioned between a pair of adjacent discs for accelerating the peripheral velocity of. the outwardly moving heavy liquid and decelerating the peripheral velocity of the inwardly moving light liquid, means for receiving the separated light liquid from the inner edges of said discs, and means for receiving the separated heavy liquid from the outer edges of said discs. j 1

5. In centrifugal countercurrent contact apparatus for effecting intimate contact between and separation of liquids which are at least partially immiscible, a rotary bowl having a central axis and an interior working space, a plurality of spaced apart annular frusto conical discs within the working space and extending outwardly from said central axis of said bowl and rotatable therewith, a plurality of aligned openings in said discs, tubular distributing channel members extending through said aligned openings in said discs and forming at least two channels within the working space, said channel members including a first channel member relatively close to said central axis and inclined outwardly with respect to said central axis from one end thereof, and a second channel member relatively remote from said central axis and inclined inwardly with respect to said central axis from the end thereof adjacent said one end, said tubular channel members having open portions for discharging liquid therefrom into the spaces between said discs, with said open portions in said first channel member being directed away from said central axis and said open portions in said second channel member being directed toward said central axis, means for introducing heavy liquid into said first channel member at said one end thereof to be distributed outwardly between said discs, means for introducing light liquid into said second channel member at said one end thereof to be distributed inwardly between said discs, each of said discs including perforations in spaced annular zones therein located between the inner and outer edges thereof and between said first and second channels, a plurality of rings extending between adjacent discs and each positioned inward of and above a perforated zone in the disc below the ring and outward of and below a perforated zone in the disc above the ring, said rings causing the light and heavy liquids to flow through said perforations in opposite directions to cause thorough mixing of the liquid-s, the light and heavy liquids separating while passing from one perforated zone to another'to provide a plurality of mixing and separating sections along said discs between the inner and outer edges thereof, means for receiving the separated light liquid from the inner edges of said discs, and means for receiving the separated heavy liquid from the outer edges of said discs.

6. In centrifugal countercurrent contact apparatus for efiectng intimate contact between and separation of liquids which are at least partially immiscible, a rotary bowl having a central axis and an interior working space, a plurality of spaced apart annular frusto conical discs within the working space and extending outwardly from said central axis of said bowl and rotatable therewith, a plurality of aligned openings in said discs, tubular distributing channel members extending through said aligned openings in said discs and forming at least two channels within the working space, said channel members including a first channel member relatively close to said central axis and inclined outwardly with respect to said central axis from one end thereof and a second channel member relatively remote from said central axis and inclined inwardly with respect to said central axis from the end thereof adjacent said one end, said tubular channel members having open portions for discharging liquid therefrom into the spaces between said discs, with said open portions in said first channel member being directed away from said central axis and said open portions in said second channel member being directed toward said central axis, means for introducing heavy liquid into said first channel member at said one end thereof to be distributed outwardly between said discs, means for introducing light liquid into said second channel member at said one end. thereof to be distributed inwardly between said discs, eachv of said discs including perforations in spaced annular zones therein located between the inner and outer edges thereof and between said first and second channels, each of said zones having a radial dimension less than that of the spacing between zones, a plurality of rings extending between adjacent discs and each positioned inward of and above a perforated zone in the disc below the ring and outward of and below a perforated zone in the disc above the ring, said rings causing the light and heavy liquids to flow through said perforations in opposite directions to cause thorough mixing of the liquids, the light and heavy liquids separating while passing from one perforated zone to another to provide a plurality of mixing and separating sections along said discs between the inner and outer edges thereof, at least one radial vane positioned between a pair of adjacent discs for accelerating the peripheral velocity of the outwardly moving heavy liquid and decelerating :the peripheral velocity of the inwardly moving light liquid, means for receiving the separated light liquid from the inner edges of said discs, and means for receiving the separated heavy liquid from the outer edges of said discs.

Referencesv Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Shenstone 2 233-29 HARRY B.

Thayer 23315 Placek 261--90 Placek 2 261-33 Clayton 233 -15 X Flowers 23315 Steinacker et al 2'3315 Madany 23270.5 X Thurman 23315 X P-alr'n'qvist et a1, 233-15 Madany 23315 THORNTON, Primar Examiner. 

1. IN CENTRIFUGAL COUNTERCURRENT CONTACT APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING INTIMATE CONTACT BETWEEN AND SEPARATION OF LIQUIDS WHICH ARE AT LEAST PARTIALLY IMMISCIBLE, THE COMBINATION INCLUDING, A ROTARY BOWL HAVING A CENTRAL AXIS AND AN INTERIOR WORKING SPACE, A PLURALITY OF SPACED APART ANNULAR DISCS WITHIN THE WORKING SPACE AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID CENTRAL AXIS OF SAID BOWL AND ROTATABLE THEREWITH, A PLURALITY OF ALIGNED OPENINGS IN SAID DISCS FORMING AT LEAST TWO CHANNELS WITHIN THE WORKING SPACE INCLUDING A FIRST CHANNEL RELATIVELY CLOSE TO SAID CENTRAL AXIS AND A SECOND CHANNEL RELATIVELY REMOTE FROM SAID CENTRAL AXIS, MEANS FOR INTRODUCING HEAVY LIQUID INTO SAID FIRST CHANNEL FOR DISTRIBUTION OUTWARDLY INTO THE SPACES BETWEEN SAID DISCS, MEANS FOR INTRODUCING LIGHT LIQUID INTO SAID SECOND CHANNEL FOR DISTRIBUTION INWARDLY INTO THE SPACES BETWEEN SAID DISCS, EACH OF SAID DISCS INCLUDING PERFORATIONS IN 